Beware of 'next year's heartworms'

Veterinarian Allen Bolt holds up a jar containing adult heartworms Wednesday at Animal Health and Medical Center on U.S. 83.

The above-normal rain and snow in Abilene during the first five months of 2010 likely will produce more heartworm cases in dogs, but a local veterinarian says that will be “next year’s heartworm.”

“We’re treating heartworm from last year now,” said Dr. Allen Bolt of the Animal Health and Medical Clini. “It takes five to seven months from the time the animal is bitten by an infected mosquito to see any results. Mosquitoes are bad right now so we’re working to prevent next year’s heartworm.

“It’s so much easier to prevent than to treat,” he continued.

Abilene had received 12.54 inches of rain as of May 24, which is about 5 inches above normal (7.27 inches), according to the National Weather Service in San Angelo.

Bolt said heartworm is primarily a disease of dogs.

“They are the host, but it can spill over to other species, including humans. We’re seeing more of it in cats, but we don’t see as much of that here.”

John Lenier, manager of Tractor Supply, strongly recommends pet owners get their animals tested for heartworm and start medication if the tests are negative.

“If they already have it,” he said, “they can’t take the medicine. It can be dangerous to the animal. They have to take treatment.”

Tractor Supply is host for a mobile clinic once a month for rabies and heartworm. On the third Saturday of each month, veterinarian Dr. L.K. Knowles conducts a clinic in a tent adjacent to the store at 4450 Southwest Drive.

“We’re expecting heartworm to be up due to the excessive moisture we’ve had this year,” Lenier said. “We’ll see a lot more bugs and insects.”

Seretha Soto of Tractor Supply said response is good to the store’s clinics.

“We always have a lot of people,” she said.

Bolt said heartworm in dogs usually starts as a chronic cough.

“They don’t have as much energy,” he added. “It causes congestive heart failure, but if you don’t run a test you don’t know if they have it.”